I remember the day I attended the interview for my first job in Estate Agency back in the 1980s. I didn’t know much about property in those days but I knew very quickly that I had found my home and I never looked back.
I learnt very early on that, not all estate agents are the same and there is a world of difference between how they conduct their business and indeed themselves. I often feel that I could write a book on how it should not be done.
I have been very fortunate in working in some of the most diverse and fascinating fields of property and I have had the privilege of inspecting some remarkable homes, perhaps the best have been over the past 18 years during which time I have specialised in country houses.
I believe that the marketing of your home should be as straightforward as possible, simplicity is the order of the day and above all be prepared, take as much advice as possible and always have a strategy. Most of my time is spent talking to potential sellers which is something that I do completely free of charge and is one of the most rewarding parts of my day.
When I am not immersing myself in property I am doing my best not to immerse myself in water as I love being afloat in anything from a canoe to a yacht and preferably in one of my favourite locations Salcombe Estuary in Devon where I have spent many happy times over the years with my family. I am a keen skier and rarely happier than when I am up a mountain at the top of the world with perfect blue skies and preferably not too far from a good alpine restaurant.
Alex is a long-serving member and Fellow of the National Association of Estate Agents, a member of the Association of Residential Letting Agents and holds a Diploma in Surveying from the University College of Estate Management at Reading.
In recent years, Alex has reported widely on the effects of HS1 on Ashford and the surrounding area including interviews with national press and television.
Blog articles featuring Alex
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Gold award from our clients
Our estate agents team have been awarded Gold for the Best Agent in Ashford by allAgents.co.uk
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Should I buy a house in a Conservation Area?
There are some wonderful properties in the Conservation Areas in Kent and East Sussex but buyers need to make sure they understand the strict planning rules designed to preserve the character of these locations.
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How I nearly made a pig's ear of selling my own house
Have you ever asked for advice and then ignored it? I guess we all have. Hobbs Parker was founded by my great-great-great-grandfather in 1850. My Dad worked here for 42 years and I’ve been working […]
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Post Stamp Duty Holiday: What next for the property market?
When Rishi Sunak announced a temporary Stamp Duty holiday on July 8th 2020 to counter the effects of the Pandemic, homebuyers celebrated the chance to save on buying costs. Was he right to do it? […]
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Stamp Duty Savings - are you buying a house with an Annexe?
“We sell many homes with accommodation that is separate to the principal home but very few buyers are aware of the Stamp Duty savings they may be entitled to.” Alex Davies
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Tips for buyers and sellers when dealing with properties from a bygone era
The first clue upon arrival is the general look of neglect. Tired net curtains hanging at the windows, peeling paintwork, stains from a leaking gutter, a rusty gate opening on to an entrance path overgrown […]
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The 'Race for Space' and house price inflation in 2020
Are rising house prices about more than just the normal supply and demand? With so much talk of the Covid crisis, it’s almost possible to forget about the numerous economic hurdles that affect house prices. […]
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Why Rishi cannot claim all the credit!
What a strange world we live in when sales of houses are going through the roof against a background of a global pandemic. Whilst the Stamp Duty holiday is welcome, this was happening before the […]
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Stamp Duty cut has immediate impact!
The temporary cut is with immediate effect and therefore reduces the cost of a property purchase straight away saving an average of £4,500 for residential property buyers providing they take advantage of it before the holiday comes […]
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Will Netflix and Amazon affect property prices in Ashford?
There has been talk of an Ashford metamorphosis for almost as long as I can remember. The opening of the ‘Missing Link’ of the M20 motorway between Ashford and Maidstone in 1991 would surely bring […]
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Might Estate Agents open first to help rebuild the economy?
A recommendation is reported to have been made in a report written for the Government by Conservative peer Lord Gadhia and Sir Jonathan Symonds, chairman of GlaxoSmithKline. Along with coffee shops and restaurants, Estate Agents […]
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Post-Coronavirus property market predictions
Savills research team recently offered some interesting analysis of what a UK property market recovery could look like post-Coronavirus predicting transaction volumes could be down by up to 45% for 2020 with the greatest impact […]
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Bucking the national property 'downturn'
It is true that we agreed 35 sales during October which we think are good results by anyone’s standards but I can tell you it doesn’t come easily and not without a lot of hard […]
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Netflix linked with move to Ashford?
The possible plans for a European filming hub presented recently to Ashford Borough Council could transform the long-abandoned Newtown railway works into seven state-of-the-art film studios. If the project goes ahead, the studios could sit […]
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Why 2019 is the right time to invest in Ashford
“If you have ever wished you’d invested somewhere that has regenerated, you will know that you are already too late.” These are the words of Alex Davies, Managing Director for Hobbs Parker Estate Agents, an […]
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How do you get the best price for your house?
How do you get the best price for your house? Answer: When you put your house on the market for the first time make sure it is at the correct market value — do not be tempted to ask for […]
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Listed Buildings Advice
The market for period property is booming and the older the house or cottage, the more likely it is to be listed. By listing a property, it celebrates a building’s special architectural and historic features […]
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Will solar panels increase the value of my home?
As the weather gets colder and darker, and the heating and lights stay on longer, there’s one thing I can predict with even more certainty than the Queen’s Speech broadcasting on Christmas Day. The arrival […]
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The best beaches in Kent and East Sussex
We explore the best beaches in Kent and East Sussex — for your children, dogs and foodie friends — as we work our way round the South East’s beautiful coastline. It’s a funny thing that […]
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Why do kitchens sell houses?
The party is in the kitchen! When we have a party at our house my wife and I spend hours making our living room look nice and then most of the evening trying to get […]
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